“It was a game with an epilogue that left a bitter taste in the mouth,” said Liverani after his first official match.

“We knew the difficulties we would’ve run into against a side that already had one ‘real’ game in their legs.

“We had taken the lead and could’ve doubled it, but allowed them too much space and lost the ball in midfield for their equaliser. There was also a forced tactical change to 3-5-2, which we had never tried before.

“Aside from the defeat, what gives me hope is the desire to turn it around right to the very end. President EnricoPreziosi came to reassure the lads.